Internet services were suspended between November 9-10 in parts of the country, in anticipation of the Supreme Court's verdict on Ayodhya land dispute case which was delivered on November 9. Uttar Pradesh: In Aligarh, internet servicess were shut down for 24 hours, starting midnight of November 8, on orders of the Aligarh District Magistrate. The internet shutdown was preemptive, i.e. ordered in anticipation of violence; the magistrate's suspension order cites the possibility of unrest and disturbance in the law and order, due to misinformation on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter. It's worth noting that the ban was imposed under Section 144 of the CrPC, and not by the Home secretary of Uttar Pradesh, as required under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules under the Telegraph Act. Section 144 prohibits assembly of 5 or more people. JUST IN: District Magistrate of Aligarh (UP) suspends internet services from today midnight till 12 am tomorrow. #AYODHYAVERDICT #AyodhyaHearing #AyodhyaCase pic.twitter.com/suEUM5bwuS — The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) November 8, 2019 Banking services and government services were exempted from suspended internet services. Netblocks, which tracks internet shutdowns with real-time technical data, said that the impact was on residential and wireless networks and excluded government networks. After Aligarh, internet services were also suspended in Agra for 24 hours, starting midnight of November 8. Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh had said that internet shutdowns could be imposed in other districts as and when the situation demanded to check the spread of communally sensitive posts and rumours. Internet services were suspended…
